Abstract: A system and method for positioning a tool relative to a patient's bone to facilitate the performance of a surgical bone alteration task. The system comprises a bone immobilization device for supporting the bone in a fixed position with respect to a reference structure, and a robot that includes a base fixed in position with respect to the reference structure. The robot also includes a mounting member, and a manipulator connected between the base and the mounting member and permitting relative movement therebetween. The tool to be positioned by the system is mounted to the mounting member. The mounting member is caused to move relative to the reference structure in response to movement commands, so that the tool can be moved to a desired task position to facilitate performance of the task. The system preferably also includes a template attachable to the mounting member, a feature of the template representing a portion of a task.

Abstract: An adaptive data compression and decompression system having a fixed dictionary size is disclosed. The compression system builds a data dictionary tree such that each path in the tree represents a string .omega., which was, along with its prefixes, in the input character stream being compressed. The root node and all nodes that do not represent a single character word in the input stream are tagged. Additionally, each non-root node is associated with a unique output code. As strings from the input stream of characters are matched against the tree, the node tags are updated. When a match fails, a new node is added. The new node is associated with a new code and a tag. When the dictionary is full, the root tag identifies the tag of a node that can be deleted. The decompression system builds a similar tapped decompression dictionary.

Abstract: A system and method for determining and providing reactive power compensation for an inductive load. A reactive power compensator (50,50') monitors the voltage and current flowing through each of three distribution lines (52a, 52b, 52c), which are supplying three-phase power to one or more inductive loads. Using signals indicative of the current on each of these lines when the voltage waveform on the line crosses zero, the reactive power compensator determines a reactive power compensator capacitance that must be connected to the lines to maintain a desired VAR level, power factor, or line voltage. Alternatively, an operator can manually select a specific capacitance for connection to each line, or the capacitance can be selected based on a time schedule. The reactive power compensator produces control signals, which are coupled through optical fibers (102/106) to a switch driver (110, 110') to select specific compensation capacitors (112) for connections to each line.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system has a blood circuit and a hemofiltrate circuit interconnected at a hemofilter and an air collection chamber. If an infusion of sterile fluid to the returning blood is needed during the dialysis treatment, filtrate in the filtrate circuit is pumped back into the blood circuit. This is also done to purge the blood circuit of blood and return it to the patient at the conclusiion of a dialysis treatment. A blood pump in the blood circuit incorporates a flexible vessel in conjunction with pinch valves which self expand in a controlled manner from a compressed condition to fill with blood from the patient in a suction stroke controlled by the patient's blood delivery rate. Compression of the vessel by an external member then forces the blood through the rest of the blood circuit.

Abstract: There is also disclosed a process for the production of filled paper using never-dried pulp fibers and filler comprising an insoluble precipitate that is precipitated in situ within the cell wall of the fibers. The process first immerses the never-dried pulp fibers in a first solution containing a soluble salt or salts, filters the pulp fibers from the first solution, and reimmerses the never-dried pulp fibers containing the first solution in the pores into a second solution, wherein the second solution comprises soluble salt or salts different from those of the first solution and able to form an insoluble precipitate with the salt or salts of the first solution. The filled, never-dried pulp fibers are filtered and washed and either used to form filled paper products or dried to filled pulp fibers for later use in papermaking.

Abstract: Quadrature phase signals (I and Q) from a pulsed Doppler medical instrument are analyzed to detect phase changes of consecutive echoes from tissue at a depth of interest. Such phase changes are analyzed to determine tissue displacement. Relative displacements at different depths are examined to detect tissue expansion and contraction. The area of the uterus of a pregnant female can be scanned and the frequency of tissue displacement or expansion and contraction examined to determine pulsations due to blood supplied by the fetal heart and/or pulsations due to blood supplied by the maternal heart. Conventional M-mode or B-mode images can be colorized differently for different frequencies of tissue displacement.

Abstract: Genomic and cDNA sequences coding for a protein having substantially the same biological activity as human protein C are disclosed. Recombinant plasmids and bacteriophage transfer vectors incorporating these sequences are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of biomolecule immobilization is described in which the biomolecule itself or, alternatively, a monomer-conjugated biomolecule, is grafted with free monomer onto a hydrophilic, solid-phase, polymeric substrate which has been pre-irradiated with ionizing radiation. The pre-irradiation step is carried out, preferably at -78.degree. C. in air, while the grafting step is carried out at 0.degree. C. in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere. The technique is applicable to immobilization of a wide variety of biomolecules, such as enzymes, catalysts, hormones, lectins, drugs, vitamins, antibodies, antigens, nucleic acids, DNA and RNA segments, pesticides, dyes and fertilizers. The products may be used for therapeutic or diagnostic applications or bioseparations.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for improving wound healing, comprising administering ascorbate or derivatives thereof to a wound site at a concentration of at least 20 .mu.mol/L and irradiating the wound site with a low-power laser at a wave length of about 600 nm to about 1100 nm. The process for improving wound healing can be used for the healing of deep, interior wounds with longer wave length radiation and higher energy output radiation. The process can further be used for improving the healing of superficial skin wounds with shorter wave lengths and lower energy output of the low-power laser.

Abstract: Reference materials of differing indices of refraction or acoustic impedances are incorporated into liquid compositions to monitor the solidification process of these liquid compositions. Light or acoustic waves are used to indirectly measure the difference between the index of refraction or acoustic impedance of the solidfying composition and the reference material. The method provides an accurate in situ indication of the completion of the solidification process as well as a monitor of the degree of solidification during the solidification process.

Abstract: Methods for detecting a unique strain of chlamydia associated with acute respiratory disease are disclosed. These methods utilize monoclonal antibody directed against an antigenic determinant of the TWAR strain of chlamydia. Also disclosed is a method for determining the presence of antibodies to the TWAR strain, utilizing elementary bodies of the TWAR strain as antigen.

Abstract: A method of controlling the chemical structure of thin films formed by plasma deposition and films produced by these methods, is disclosed. An important aspect of the method involves controlling the temperature of the substrate and the reactor so as to create a temperature differential between the substrate and reactor such that the precursor molecules are preferentially adsorbed or condensed onto the substrate either during plasma deposition or between plasma deposition steps. The thin films produced by the methods of this invention exhibit more defined and predictable chemical structures and properties than conventional plasma deposited films.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning a tool relative to a patient's bone to facilitate the performance of a surgical bone alteration task. The system comprises a bone immobilization device for supporting the bone in a fixed position with respect to a reference structure, and a robot that includes a base fixed in position with respect to the reference structure. The robot also includes a mounting member, and a manipulator connected between the base and the mounting member and permitting relative movement therebetween. The tool to be positioned by the system is mounted to the mounting member. The mounting member is caused to move relative to the reference structure in response to movement commands, so that the tool can be moved to a desired task position to facilitate performance of the task. The system preferably also includes a template attachable to the mounting member, a feature of the template representing a portion of a task.

Abstract: A 2,356 base pair fragment isolated from the human X chromosome, designated as Xrep, has been found to exert a positive effect on plasmid replication in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The Xrep, in addition, has been found to increase transcription of DNA, thus leading to increased expression of desired protein products. The Xrep segment has been fully sequenced and portions thereof have been found to exhibit homologies with enhancer sequences contained in various viruses.

Abstract: A method of treating a hemoglobinopathic condition such as sickle cell anemia, by pulse treatment with erythropoietin. In one embodiment, each of one or more treatment regimens includes a first time period during which erythropoietin is administered to a hemoglobinopathic patient and a second time period during which erythropoietin is withheld from the patient. During the first time period, sufficient erythropoietin is administered to increase F-reticulocyte formation in the patient. The pulse treatment preferably includes a plurality of the treatment regimens, in which case the durations of the second time periods are selected to achieve a cumulative increment of F-cell count sufficient to effectively treat the patient'This invention was made partly with government support under one or more of grants HL20899 and HL21676 from the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in this invention.

Abstract: Proteins having therapeutic potential as both anticoagulants and as anti-inflammatory agents are disclosed. The present invention also discloses the use of lipocortins in reducing blood coagulation in warm-blooded animals.

Abstract: A method for enhancing bio-material capability for use as a supporting surface for cell culture is disclosed. The method requires exposure of the bio-material to a plasma polymerizable polymer gas, which includes oxygen-containing organic molecules. The material surfaces are then subjected to an RF plasma gas discharge in the presence of the gas, causing a deposition on the exposed material surfaces of a conformal overcoating of the polymer on the material. The deposition enhances fibronectin adsorption and hence cell attachment, spreading and cell growth. Preferred polymerizable gases are acetone, methanol, and ethylene oxide.

Abstract: Reference materials of differing indices of refraction or acoustic impedances are incorporated into liquid compositions to monitor the solidification process of these liquid compositions. Light or acoustic waves are used to indirectly measure the difference between the index of refraction or acoustic impedance of the solidifying composition and the reference material. The method provides an accurate in situ indication of the completion of the solidification process as well as a monitor of the degree of solidifications during the solidification process.

Abstract: Therapeutic antioxidant compounds, useful for relieving the pathogenesis of oxidative stress, of formula ##STR1## wherein substituents R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are individually selected from among hydrogen, methyl, or other atoms and groups that do not adversely affect the overall spectrum of redox activity of the 4-thiohistidine. N-3 is unsubstituted or is substituted as described for R.sub.1 to R.sub.4. R.sub.6 is preferably hydrogen or --SR.